5/15/05 - Reds warm up the new
furniture designs this year, but softer colors are moving in. Rich, warm
shades of chocolate, blues and silvery grays were some of the popular
colors at the Spring International Home Furnishings Market. Customers
will see pops of red and lime green.

"We've embraced color
in the last five years, and people are looking for the 'what next,' "
said Becky Ralich Spak, senior designer for The Sherwin-Williams Co. "People
want color, they want luxury, they want good design. They demand that."
Blue is particularly dominant this year, reflected in both clothing and
home furnishings. "Green has been so big the last few seasons, but
now blue is coming in," Spak said. "It doesn't happen overnight
-but the greens have more blues in them, even at the spring fashion shows."
Many of the blues, she said, are influenced by natural materials such
as patina copper.

"At the high end, the color
palette has lightened up completely, which is refreshing," said Jeff
Lenchner, chief executive officer of Today's Home and Designer Furniture
Outlet. Many of the designs by Barbara Barry for Henredon are in grays
and creams. Alexa Hampton for Hickory Chair features blues and browns,
for a contemporary look. Lenchner also said he's seeing lime, corals,
cocoa and ice blues. "The last several markets it seems like the
oranges have prevailed, and now I see a lot of teals, blues, the sky blues,"
said Perry Sigesmund, owner of Leather Hideout.

Lane is departing from its traditional,
more neutral colors to add more whimsical hues. "Last market we stepped
out into more color, and it seemed to be received well. People are requesting
it," said Paula Melton, advertising manager for Lane.

Oranges - popular the past few
years - are becoming more red. Lime green also makes an appearance, in
paint and some home furnishings. Sherwin-Williams next year also will
offer a bright lime green, called "Melange Green", designed
to appeal to children and adults. "We saw it at Chanel, as Shrek,
or on appliances," Spak said of the color. Color trends evolve over
time, influenced by pop culture, technology, the state of the nation,
nature, and more, she said. "The colors we're seeing now are less
gray," Spak said. "They are bright and clear and clean."

Sherwin-Williams' Color
and Design Trend Forecast

The five categories Sherwin-Williams'
color and design trend forecast share some common themes, according to
Becky Ralich Spak, senior color consultant for color marketing and design.
The 2005 themes recognize that color can draw distinction as it integrates,
highlight individuality as it unites and focus on detail as it compels
us to see the beautiful whole, according to Ralich Spak.

--RetroSpective: "RetroSpective
is the shape of the past interpreted in a fresh approach for today. It
combines precise, routine geometric patterns with unexpected twists on
textures and colors," said Ralich Spak. Textile influences include
Sashiko, a form of hand-sewing once practiced in Japan and China. Simple
running stitches in repeated or interlocking patterns are a hallmark of
Sashiko, as is the technique's incorporation of blank or negative space.

Colors for this category blend
intense selections such as Jalapeno (SW 6629), a highly saturated, red-based
orange, with CyberSpace (SW 7076), a deep charcoal gray. Other colors
include Fireweed (SW 6328), a red-brown; Melange Green (SW 6710), a shocking
yellow-green; Solitude (SW 6535), a blue midtone shading to red; and Mink
(SW 6004), a liaison color that functions as conduit among the various
other shades.

--Artisan: an individual voice
for style The keystone for this category supports a focus on one-of-a-kind,
versus mass-produced elements. Pains are taken to support the creative
process without restrictions based on design, materials, colors or cost.
This category transitions into decor in uniquely personal ways: a collection
of pleasingly arrayed pieces culled from travels or a mix of antique furnishings
with contemporary.

--Modern Classic: "Modern
Classic is all about the familiar working in tandem with the unexpected,"
said Ralich Spak. "It presents formal design with a surprising use
of colors and materials," she added. Colors include Sociable (SW
6359), a soft, pale peach; Drizzle (SW 6479) a watery aqua that signals
serenity and relaxation; Saffron Thread (SW 6663), a warm gold that acts
as a highlight; Quest Gray (SW 7080), a complex neutral with hints of
lavender; Sequin (SW 6394),golden yellow with a hint of green; and Intellectual
Gray (SW 7045).

--Haute Couture: High-fashion
colors, The contrast of dark and light values. "Haute Couture isn't
for those with a follow-the-lead attitude, said Ralich Spak, "It's
a category in which advanced technology provides compelling options for
flooring, textiles, wall coverings and laminates."

"What do chocolate brown,
bright blue, and melon all have in common? Each is a color that will be
gaining in popularity during 2005. "Colors such as ocean blue, mango,
twilight purple and sunny yellow make for a fun and beach-like palette.
Useful in bedrooms, sunrooms, kitchens and any area where warmth is required."

"Continuing in 2005, rich
reds, chocolate and sable browns, deep greens and blues can be used either
sparingly on one wall surface or in combination above or below a chair
rail and to visually lower a high ceiling, often seen in new home construction"

"Brushed metallic surfaces
are replacing those shiny brass finishes used in the past. Soft pewter,
mellow copper and brushed nickel are the perfect complement to today's
kitchen appliances and bath accessories."

--Rohm and Haas Paint Quality
Institute

Color Trends 2005

"This year's color story includes a
range of lively options -- cool greens from kelly to olive, vibrant blues
from aqua to navy and warm traditional reds and yellows that provide homeowners
fresh opportunities to express their individuality," says Melissa Birdsong,
director of trend forecasting and design for Lowe's. "For the last few
seasons, homeowners have enjoyed experimenting with bolder colors, and
these new offerings have greater depth to add even more drama to key areas
in the home."

Red is the perfect complement to black and
white and continues to be an important element to any decorating scheme,
no matter what the style. While tomato red is hot, reds influenced by
Eastern and south-of-the-border palettes will add spice to home decor
this year.

Oranges

From fruit-inspired tones like mango and
cantaloupe to earthier corals and terra cottas to deeper burnt oranges.

Sparkle

Colors reflecting luxury and sparkle add
a touch of opulence to the home. Metallic golds, silvers, and bronzes
infused this year's palettes. Red and green-based golds and browns are
freshened with silver tones.

Earth Tones

Natural materials and nature-inspired colors
continue to be important in decor.Shades of moss and olive, combined with
neutral grays and bronzes.

Mix it up

Bold color combinations in stripes and patterns

-Sherbet to shocking pink with green

- Green-infused blues of teal or aqua with
white

- Nature-inspired taupe with indigo

- Kelly green with navy

- Black with burnt orange

- Browns with pink, blue, or green

"Top Trends in Color
for 2005"

1. Citrus splash

Hot color-red-red, citrus orange, bold tangerine
and lively pink are the palette of choice. Go for tangy orange in your
mudroom or golden yellow in a great room. Or consider kiwi green, tangerine
or watermelon brights that pack a mouthwatering punch for interiors.

2. Chocolate

They say chocolate brown is the "new" black.
It has all the depth of black yet has a warmer, cozier feel to it. Also
hot: robin's egg blue paired with brown.

3. Really red

Red is warm and inviting and it looks terrific.
Try barn red, Chinese red or watermelon red in a sitting room.

4. Harvest hues

Warm and appealing any time of year, look
for shades of pumpkin, golden wheat and deep gold that offer an autumnal
palette. Mix in black, cream or sage greens too, for a look that is seasonless
and timeless.

5. Think pink

It's out of a child's room and into the living
room for pink. Fresh and crisp, pink beckons in pale bubblegum pastels
and watermelon brights, in shades from baby-powder pink to sun-washed
coral. Give pink new sophistication by pairing it with black, wheat or
chocolate brown. And remember that skin tones can be enhanced when light
reflects off warm pink walls, so it's perfect for the dining room and
the dressing room.

6. The new blue

Blues remain popular for everything from
the nautical look to formal dining. Pair almost any tint of blue with
tan, camel, white, yellow or pale green to make a restful combination.
Blue also looks great with black, chocolate brown and charcoal gray. A
soothing hue, blue is terrific when used in a bedroom, family room or
personal retreat.

7. Warmed silver

Silver, chrome and stainless have retained
their appeal, yet many accessories are taking a softer turn. Brushed and
distressed finishes are showing up in faucets as well as drawer handles.
Look for lamps and other accents in silver that's been dashed with a bit
of gold to offer warmth to this usually chilly metallic tone.

8. Soft greens

Sage greens have been a consumer favorite
for several years, but in 2005 the color may ramp up a bit to brighter
hues. These green tones look wonderful with white, yellows, golds, brushed
silver, tan, cream, brown and black. Brighter greens can also be paired
with citrus hues of coral, hot pink, orange and lemon.

9. Black and white

Black and white is a go-with-everything duo.
Pair them on a classic tiled floor. Hang black-and-white check fabric
shades in a room swathed in black-and-white toile wallpaper. Or use this
fresh combination in a contemporary, eclectic, formal or French-style
room. In addition, black and white mixes easily with red, gold, yellow,
orange and fresh green.

--Better Homes and Gardens

"The average homeowner today watches what
the trends are far more than they used to," said Leatrice Eiseman, a color/designer
consultant who forecasts colors for Pantone, and author of "Color For Your
Every Mood" and "The Color Answer Book." "People are really seeing what
other so-called average people are doing to change the way their homes look
and are being empowered and encouraged." Borrowing from fashion and home
decoration, colors are cleaner and more vibrant.

In her 2005 forecast, Eiseman
breaks home color into eight groups:

Mellow midtones, such as Pink Nectar and
Banana Crepe.

Soothing blues mixed with bright greens.

Earthy shades such as Dusky Orchid and Sage.

Nurturing colors such as rose and cream.

Glowing combinations of apricot mixed with
hot pinks.

Retro combinations showcased in an Emilio
Pucci fabric.

Grapes and violets used with mossy greens
or browns.

Deco-like collaborations between Caviar Black
and grays.

Orange- the color for
2005

"It's a color that is uplifting, stimulating
and enlivening," said Barbara Richardson, director of color marketing
for ICI Paints, parent of Glidden. Her company named Full Bloom, a citrus-inspired
orange, the color for 2005."Full Bloom has the ability to raise our
spirits and to make us feel optimistic - a quality that is in high demand
right now."

"People do have this concept that orange
is this scary color," said designer Susan Sargent. The problem, said Sargent,
is that the single label can't cover the spectrum orange encompasses.
"Orange isn't a word I use. I recommend pumpkin, mango. We can see 7 million
colors, but we don't have words for all of them," said Sargent, author
of a decorating guide titled "The Comfort of Color" (Bulfinch, $29.95).
Think peach and paprika, sunset and salmon, terra cotta and tiger lily.

"It can be classic if you want to use it
in a traditional setting. Or, dial it up a few notches for contemporary,"
Richardson said. The hue can be vibrant in a traditional setting. Combined
with greens and yellows, orange lends itself to an earthy palette. The
colors also evoke Arizona sunsets and reflect ethnic influences, borrowing
vibrant elements from Hispanic cultures, noted Richardson. "Many shades
of orange evoke the excitement of a fiesta with their vitality and fruitiness,"
she said.

The old world of off-white
walls with stark white trim is giving way to a rainbow of options, according
to Cindy Wight, color and decorating consultant for Wight Paint Designs.

"Definitely there is more
color on the walls these days," Wight says.Those whitewashed years, she
says, reflected a desire to come into the light after the dark earth tones
of the avocado-gold-brown years of the 1960s and '70s. "In the '70s and
'80s, we had all gone through the brown and gold, and everyone went white-white-white.
It was very clean, but then it was boring," she says.Now, color is back."We've
gone through kind of a Mediterranean phase - the gold, the red and the
plums," Wight says. "That's still in, but more fresh colors are coming
in, too." These include such combinations as light tan and aqua with white
accents.

Those fresh, light color
schemes represent one of several color trends for 2005, according to Debbie
Zimmer, decorative painting consultant for the Rohm and Haas Paint Quality
Institute."A color scheme that I think you'll see a lot more of - especially
in the West - is the bright, bold, almost beachy colors:bright blues and
a continuation with pink tones," Zimmer says.

"We see consumers becoming
much more comfortable in working with deep plums, deep greens and deep
cranberry," she says.

Zimmer says there is a kind
of search for serenity in decor that is leading us back to new variations
on that old white-on-white palette. "People are busy running around, and
they are developing rooms for quiet reflection; I see whites being employed
in these quite heavily," she says. Update on whites: a rise in sheen level.
"The higher sheen makes that color scheme much newer."

The Coral Craze

Designers are tweaking the tropical trend
with coral motifs. Both fashion and fabric lines are showing coral-decorated
fabrics. Catalogs such as the Source Perrier Collection and Ballard Designs
were among the first to show coral in beaded throw pillows. Coral lamps
and chandeliers seen in recent issues of O and Elle Decor. House Beautiful's
March issue features red coral on the headboard in a child's room. Coral
has reached the mass market- Stein Mart's recent Sunday circular featured
a page devoted to the "Coral Craze."

Laura Daily, vice president of merchandising
for Ballard Designs says trends often emerge in catalogs first because
space is limited and the decisionmakers are forced to be more focused.

Michelle Lamb, home-furnishings guru, says
coral, like toile, emerged first in home decor and then spread to apparel.
"For the next year, I think coral, stripes and banana leaves are much
more salable than palm trees, monkeys and maps. It is more colorful, too,
and that's directional."